15 chapter 15 : Marcus Crassus

After speaking with Batiatus, Orion went to the training yard where upon his arrival, the gladiators looked at him strangely. Spartacus and Varro came directly to him with the girls.

 Varro: Orion, do you know who you will face in the next fight in the arena?!

 "Yeah, Theokoles! So what ?!" He asked to Varro who remained looking at him as if he didn't even know what to think of him anymore.

He was sincerely stressed for Orion and Spartacus because Theokoles was an undefeated giant.

 Spartacus: You and I are going to face him during the primus, it seems he's very strong and has never fallen. During your days of absence, Oenomaus who is the only survivor of a fight against Theokoles spoke to me about him. He thinks that even with you it will be an almost impossible win.

 " Ah ah ah ah ! Did Oenomaus really say that?! Hahaha…oh my god!" Orion started laughing in front of the others who remained stunned.

 « You underestimate a formidable opponent whom you have never fought and whom you have never even seen fight. This is a stupid mistake Orion! » Oenomaus' voice was heard as he approached.

 Orion: You're wrong, I don't underestimate him. It's rather you who underestimate me! True or false ?!

 Oenomaus:…

 Others :…

 Varro: Orion listen, it's not that...(Interrupted)

 "Bring us some practice swords please!" Orion asked him calmly but without any apparent emotion, they felt the atmosphere around him change drastically. The air even seemed to have become colder.

 Varro sighed before going to get the swords and Orion looked at Oenomaus asking

 « In a fight now between you and Theokoles, what are your chances ?! How long could you last?! » while at the same time giving him one of the swords.

 Oenomaus: Facing Shadow of Death now, I could last a few minutes (knowing that in one minute a lot can happen during a fight) and also inflict damage on him.

 Orion: Can you defeat him or not?!

 "I don't think I can accomplish this feat except maybe for a suicidal attack!!" Oenomaus said with great uncertainty.

 Orion: Well, imagine I'm Theokoles and try to attack me with your practice sword.

 Oenomaus: Are you serious?! You know I won't go slow right?!

 Orion: That's why I told you to imagine me as Theokoles. (he looked at the others) Look closely at you four.

 Orion and Oenomaus prepared and then got into position, the other gladiators also gathered around to watch and many were cheering for Oenomaus.

 Crixus looked at everything with a sharp eye, Oenomaus said that he is going to give everything against Orion and he really wanted to see what the conclusion would be between these two monsters.

 Oenomaus took a deep breath and looked at Orion, his grip tightening on his sword.

 "AAAAAH!" 

 He shouted rushing towards Orion with a very fast and powerful diagonal attack but in one breath Orion was already standing near Oenomaus with his glaive just millimeters from his neck.

 Oenomaus was completely paralyzed by shock from Orion's speed.

 Orion: Oops ! I just killed you in a split second!

 *Silence*

 Everyone stood there in silence looking at Orion in shock, especially the gladiators. Oenomaus was their Doctore, he was the one who trained them, a veteran stronger than them and experienced but he had been beaten for less than two seconds.

 Orion handed over his sword and left for his lodge, coldly telling the others, "I am quite disappointed in your low opinion of my strength!" , the girls wanted to speak but could no longer say anything, they had the strange presentiment that Orion had denied them the right to justification.

 The secret behind Oenomaus's defeat contrary to what others thought was not really speed.

 Orion had created a way of fighting aimed at killing any human being in a single blow.

 To achieve this he uses his extremely precise prediction of opposing movements. By knowing his opponent's attack or future maneuver, Orion is able to predict just as well the enemy's vital areas that will be exposed to him.

 This is how by moving forward just at the very beginning of the attack to strike, Orion can create an illusion of absurd speed for his opponent and beat him in one hit.

 The speed that Orion had just shown them was below his normal attack speed, he had been training for months with weights heavier than those of Spartacus and Varro in addition to the stone swords that he now manipulated as if they were as light as a feather, the muscles in his body became even more voluminous, defined and supple.

 Oenomaus, coming out of his lethargy, said nothing more! He was strong and could kick anyone's ass in this ludus, yet what he had just felt against Orion was something that gladiators sometimes feared even more than death, it was despair.

 "How can you beat someone like that ?! Did I really dare to compare him to Gannicus last time?! I wonder what The Shadow of Death will do against him." he murmured as he calmly put away the two swords.

 "Heeeerph!" Varro exhaled the air he had been holding in until now! He looked at Spartacus with a frightened expression.

 "What was that disgusting speed?!" 

 Spartacus: The same speed that will kill Theokoles during the primus! I don't know how I will be useful in this fight.

 « GET BACK TO TRAINING!! » Oenomaus shouted as he cracked his whip. The gladiators resumed their training and knowing that some were going to fight during the games, they all applied themselves to training.

 Since it was the afternoon, Spartacus and Varro's training was in the hands of Oenomaus.

The two women Salma and Sura had taken their places on a bench in the shade near Orion's lodge.

 Strangely, no gladiators harassed them and they had their reasons. One of them almost two weeks ago during Orion's sleep had dared to sexually harass Salma thinking that she was a weak woman and most certainly a prostitute that Orion was keeping with him.

 The poor carefree gladiator had no idea that the girl in front of him knew how to fight so he didn't pay attention until the beauty decided to kick his ass.

She first kneed him in the balls and enraged by the pain, he tried to hit her with a slap but she dodged him and retaliated with a punch to his throat.

 The gladiator collapsed in front of his brothers without any of them wanting to help him, he had been beaten by a woman.

 In truth, Salma was not as strong as this gladiator physically and if it was a direct confrontation, the result would have been very different.

 When he woke up, Orion promised to kill the next person who dared to harass her, he threatened everyone and spoke loud enough for even the guards to hear him and no one was crazy enough to provoke him knowing what he was capable of.

 Salma and Sura's physiques had undergone some change since they had started training with the Spartans.

Some muscles SLIGHTLY visible, especially the abdominals. They had had good training with the Greeks and Orion himself.

 Knowing the weak points of the male anatomy, he gave them tips for beating a man in close combat, the advice he gave them was to always keep in mind that the man in front of them could crush in force and that they should never try a struggle of strength but to work on their speed and their precision because the effect of surprise was their greatest ally.

 During that night, Orion went out to train with them, he fought with Spartacus and Varro in turns with a blindfold on. Orion quickly got used to fighting in these conditions and won each fight more and more easily even if it was extremely difficult at the beginning because his opponents were stronger than Marius.

 By the end of the session, the only question on both of their minds was whether Orion was still human.

How a man could fight blindly as if his eyes were wide open. They didn't look any further because since they've known this guy, he's done nothing but strange things.

 The next day, at the evening before the games, the reception had already started and the guests were much more prestigious than Batiatus expected, all the guests from the last time were there including even more prestigious people including the legate Glaber, husband of Ilithya responsible for the captivity of Spartacus and his wife.

 Senator Albinius, Ilithya's father, had also come. Titus Calavius, the magistrate who will sponsor the games even took his wife and his son Numerius who was impatient to see and meet Orion.

 All the gladiators of House Batiatus who were to fight the next day were there, all except Orion who was late as usual.

 This time, Batiatus didn't even bother to find out where he was because he already knew the individual's ways.

 Crixus, Spartacus and Varro were lined up side by side with the other gladiators near the entrance when they saw Lucretia, Ilithya and Glaber approach them and then begin to examine them.

 Ilithya: Crixus has recovered from his injuries!! (she looked him up and down)

 Lucretia: Yes and fortunately for him, Orion didn't want to hurt him too deeply otherwise his recovery would have taken much longer.

 Glaber: And where is this new champion?! My wife dragged me to this damned drought-stricken city to see these games starring your champion and Theokoles.

 Lucretia: He's not there yet, Orion is quite a strange person who rarely does things according to the norm.

 Glaber: Yet he is only a gladiator! A simple slave! Make him whip and he will learn to do things in order!

 Lucretia: I'm sorry to tell you this, but Orion is in fact a free man, not a slave. This is a very rare case but it is what it is.

 « Humph!! I'm expecting to see a champion and what have I got?! The same stinking and wild Thracian! » Glaber said as he approached Spartacus in front of whom he stood with a mocking smile!

 Glaber: I heard you were going to face Theokoles with the new champion tomorrow. I hope to see your organs spread on the sand to join your dear wife in the afterlife. I bet that Syrian guy must have taken advantage of her before selling her to a brothel, I heard the prostitutes there die like bitches.

 He looked at Spartacus who was strangely smiling and he started to get angry.

 "Thracian bastard ! Can you tell me the reason for this cheeky smile?! Speak or I will… (interrupted)"

 "Please forgive my friend but the reason for this blissful smile is undoubtedly the perfect health of his wife, free again and returned to him. » a calm voice was heard at the entrance.

 They looked in the direction of the voice and Glaber saw a handsome young man with dark skin and long cascading hair walk in in a white toga, it was Orion.

 He was accompanied by two beautiful women behind him and each held a rectangular wooden plaque wrapped in cloth.

 Glaber looked at the new arrival with curiosity mixed with fascination but it only lasted two seconds as his face froze in shock upon seeing the girl standing at Orion's left rear, Sura.

 Both women under Orion's good treatment had become much more beautiful than before he met and because of their training, their figures became firmer while even gaining curves.

 They wore beautiful, sexy white dresses with long side slits to show off their thighs with gold jewelry, Orion had arranged everything to make them stand out from the crowd and it was a success considering how people looked at them.

 The smile on Spartacus' face was transmitted to Varro as well. Crixus near them looked at the trio and didn't even know what to say.

 Glaber looked at Orion and thought he was a foreign prince or the eldest son of a too-rich merchant. His gaze persevered on Sura and he asked, "May I know who I'm dealing with?!" 

 Orion didn't say anything, he just continued on his way ignoring everyone despite the stares on them.

Batiatus saw it coming and announced it to those who did not know him.

 « Dear guests and distinguished friends, I offer you for the pleasure of your eyes the new champion of the house of Batiatus, the new god of the arena of Capua! Orion, the Death Star! »

 The guests who hadn't seen them yet almost spit out their wine. Even those who had seen him before were never accustomed to either the sight of him or the fact that he was truly a gladiator.

The audience was in turmoil not only because of Orion but also because of the two goddesses who accompanied him.

 In the audience, the women were burning with jealousy for Salma and Sura while the men were mentally beating themselves up because of their desires for these women. Orion, for his part, only attracted everyone's attention.

 Glaber was gritting his teeth and looked at Lucretia angrily « A gladiator?!! This guy who looks down on me was just a gladiator!! How the hell did he find the Thracian's wife !?? »

 Lucretia: He is not just a simple gladiator, Legate! Orion is the champion of Capua and a free man! There are a lot of personalities this evening, including members of the Senate who even came here especially to see him.

 Glaber remained brooding over his anger much to the delight of Spartacus. As for Orion, he ignored people's gazes just like the two women with him and they went to settle in a quiet corner.

 Orion found a support for one of the paintings and Salma took out small wooden bottles containing colored liquids - the colors he used to paint.

 The girls brought fruit and some wine, he asked Salma to sit right in front of him and then he started painting.

 The curious people of the trio tried to get closer and talk to the girls who just remained polite.

 In a corner of the room, Cossutius and Varus looked at the trio with greedy eyes.

 Cossutius: This boy surprises me every time I see him, the women he is with are real beauties!

 Varus: I wonder where he found them, if they are slaves then I want to buy them back.

 Cossutius: I doubt even he can part with it!

 Varus: I am a Senator of the republic, I can have everything and not a few slaves will be able to escape me.

 This fool went to Orion and before he even began to speak, Orion beat him to it.

 « From here I heard your conversation with your friend so before you can even run out of saliva I'm going to tell you NO. The two ladies are not slaves but free women. Thank you for leaving me to my occupation. »

 He responded without even looking away from his board.

 Varus: HOLD YOUR TONGUE GLADIATOR!! I AM SENATOR VARUS, A KNOWN NAME OF THE REPUBLIC AND A NON-ROMAN SUCH AS YOU IS NOTHING AT ALL IN FRONT OF ME DESPITE YOUR STATUS AS A FREE MAN.

 Orion: Never heard of you!!

 At this point, the senator was furious. However, her screams had already attracted the attention of all the other guests. Batiatus, Titus, Sextus and Senator Albinius moved closer to see what was happening.

 Batiatus: Senator, has my gladiator insulted you or done something unpleasant?!

 Varus: Batiatus, your ludus should better welcome people of better birth! Your gladiator here just disrespected me, I should have his tongue cut out.

 Albinius: Young gladiator, your status as champion or favorite has its limits! Hurry up and explain yourself right away.

 Orion, without even moving, continued to paint while explaining what had just happened. The others turned to Varus to hear what he had to say when…

 "You have nothing better to do than harass a young man?!" a man's voice was heard at the entrance.

 He was a middle-aged man with a strong jaw and blue eyes. His face already had wrinkles and his expression was stern.

 Everyone turned to look at him and some looked really shocked when they saw the person who had just spoken.

 Senator Varus + Albinius: Crassus!!

 Batiatus could not believe his eyes, the richest man in the republic was under his roof, Marcus Licinius Crassus.

 Orion looked up slightly to look at him and gave a smile as he finished finishing his work. People had already even forgotten the dispute between Orion and Varus to look at Crassus.

 "It is an honor to welcome a man such as you to my humble home, Senator Crassus!" Batiatus said after getting closer to Crassus who just nodded.

 Crassus: Quintus Lentulis Batiatus!! Your ludus has made echoes as far as Rome thanks to your champion. I want to see him, they say his strength is matched only by his beauty, but yet he has only appeared in the arena once.

 Batiatus: You can believe me, Orion's strength is the best I have seen in my entire life and he easily outclasses any other champion that appeared in Capua.

 « However…his first match in the arena remains very…questionable ! They say Crixus lost too easily and everything seemed like a fixed match! » Solonius said smiling.

 Batiatus: If good old Solonius didn't have his memory to match the talent of his gladiators, he would have remembered that we had given a demonstration at the last party! He could kill 20 of your gladiators without any problem.

 Glaber: However, many of the people here this evening were absent here during this evening. Don't you think it would be nice to show what your...champion is capable of?!

 Batiatus: Unfortunately, Legate, I'm afraid there are no opponents for Orion tonight. The honorable Solonius did not prepare any gladiators for the event.

 Glaber: My soldiers will do! The last demonstration was about a fight to the death so let's play the same music again.

 Orion: Are you sure?! They are soldiers of the republic, they…(interrupted)

 "Will be more than enough to take care of an arrogant gladiator, no matter what happens, I'll take responsibility!!" Glaber said while Orion just shrugged.

 He called two of his best soldiers and they all looked at Orion, especially Crassus. He continued his finishing touches before putting his painting down so that the paint could dry. People looked at the portrait he had made and were shocked to see that it was a portrait of Salma, it was missing a lot of color and was really beautiful.

 Orion: Legate, the last time I demonstrated myself, I was very disappointed by my opponents. If your men manage to beat one of the two women with me then I could face them.

 This sentence from Orion created an uproar in the room, even the gladiators were stunned by what Orion had just said.

They began to criticize him and call him a coward because he wanted to make a woman fight in his place. Batiatus wanted to vomit blood, Orion made his gladiators look like cowards.

 Crassus on the other hand looked at Orion and the girls with some interest. The other personalities found the situation rather hilarious, they laughed just like Glaber.

 Glaber: This is all the splendor of the champion of Capua, you are nothing other than a…(interrupted)

 "Give me a sword and let's get started!!" 

 Orion said emotionlessly as he stood up, Glaber gestured to one of his men who contemptuously handed his glaive back to Orion.

 Orion walked over to Sura and gave her the sword, "Go and give me a nice slaughter my dear." he said calmly before returning to his seat and picking up the second painting to continue a new work.

 Batiatus wanted to explode in anger but he saw a look Orion gave him and he began to calm down.

 "This bastard knows what he's doing!" he thought before taking a sip of wine.

 Glaber saw that it was Sura who was sent to death so he accepted Orion's test with a smile, he wanted to take this opportunity to kill Spartacus' wife in front of him.

 Spartacus for his part looked at Orion with a serious look, he didn't really know what his wife was capable of with a sword in her hand. Orion signaled him to calm down but he continued to stress much to the delight of Glaber, his wife and a few other jealous ladies of Sura.

 The fight was arranged and they were given space in a room with a small empty pool. Of the two soldiers, out of pride only one went to face Sura with a smile.

 "I'm going to do this slowly beauty, you're going to suffer!" he said confidently as he sent a light attack that aimed at Sura's left cheek, he wanted to disfigure her before killing her.

 Sura deflected this blow which did not have too much force before slitting the soldier's throat with the tip of his sword. It was a quick attack from Sura and no one expected it except Orion and Salma.

 *GLUIRP*

 Blood began to spurt from the soldier's mouth as he held his neck, from which a fountain of blood gushed out before he collapsed.

 Silence settled in the room as they looked at the beauty with the sword some with admiration, others with excitement but for many others it was a shock.

 The second soldier no longer underestimated her and rushed forward with a strong horizontal attack but Sura ducked to dodge and with an outward spin she made a large gash on his thigh with her sword.

 The soldier, deprived of mobility, screamed in pain like a pig and wanted to turn around to face Soura but the second he did, he only felt a cold blade violently sink into his mouth and come out the back of his neck.

 Blood spurted onto Sura and stained her robes before the poor soldier fell as well, he convulsed for a short time like the other before dying.

 Sura, despite this blood on her, did not lose her presence, she looked like a goddess of war with her sword in her hand.

 Orion got up from where he was with his painting to come near the two corpses, he dipped his finger in the blood on the ground and applied it to his painting before revealing it to everyone.

 It was a magnificent portrait of Sura with the bloodied corpses of two Roman soldiers at its feet.

 Spartacus:…

 All the others :…

 Glaber was boiling with anger, he wanted to speak when he heard Orion's voice

 "You see Legate, why should I waste my time with men who are incapable of defeating a simple woman?!" 

 "Simple woman my ass!! She's a priestess of death yes!" Solonius thought through gritted teeth.

 Crassus had a certain smile on his face "Finally, I don't regret coming to visit your ludus! House Batiatus' champ is truly spécial !!" 

 he said putting his hand on Batiatus' shoulder who was literally in heaven now, he looked at Orion with proud eyes.

 Its champion managed to attract the interest of the richest man in the Republic on his ludus.

 Crassus then went to discuss some arrangements with Batiatus and Solonius, he wanted to change Orion's match tomorrow.

 He had arrived in Capua with his friend, the lanist Hieronymus, owner of Theokoles who had as bodyguard two German gladiators, giants of almost two meters that he wanted to see fight against Orion.

 It'll be a 3v3 match tomorrow and Orion will still be able to fight alongside Spartacus and another gladiators decided by Batiatus. Batiatus announced it in the room and the guests shouted with joy; for Orion, this modification changed absolutely nothing for him.